United States Post Office Department facts for kids
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | February 20, 1792 |
| Dissolved | July 1, 1971 |
| Superseding agency | |
| Agency executive | |
The Post Office Department was the old name for the United States Postal Service (USPS). It used to be a special part of the U.S. government called a Cabinet department. This meant its leader, the United States Postmaster General, was a top advisor to the President.
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What Was the Post Office Department?
The Post Office Department was in charge of mail delivery across the United States. It was a very important service for people to send letters and packages. For many years, it was a direct part of the President's team.
How It Started
The Post Office Department began a long time ago. On February 20, 1792, President George Washington signed a law. This law was called the Postal Service Act. It officially created the department.
At first, people just called it the "Post Office." But a Postmaster General named John McLean started calling it the "Post Office Department." This made it sound more official.
Joining the President's Cabinet
The Post Office became even more important later on. President Andrew Jackson made a big change. He asked his Postmaster General, William T. Barry, to join his Cabinet. The Cabinet is a group of the President's top advisors. This showed how vital mail services were to the country.
Mail During the Civil War
During the Civil War, the country was divided. The southern states formed the Confederacy. They created their own mail service. It was called the Confederate States of America Post Office Department. Its leader was Postmaster General John Henninger Reagan.
Becoming the USPS
The Post Office Department changed again many years later. On August 12, 1970, President Richard Nixon signed a new law. It was called the Postal Reorganization Act. This law changed the Post Office Department. It became the independent United States Postal Service. This change happened on July 1, 1971. The USPS still delivers mail today.
Images for kids
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~ Benjamin Franklin ~ George Washington ~The First U.S. Postage StampsIssued 1847The first stamp issues were authorized by an act of Congress and approved on March 3, 1847. The earliest known use of the Franklin 5¢ is July 7, 1847, while the earliest known use of the Washington 10¢ is July 2, 1847. These issues were declared invalid for postage on July 1, 1851.
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Mineral Wells, Texas, post office, built between 1911 and 1913
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Mail truck loaded with gold leaves the New York City Assay Office, 1941.
